Comments on: Indoor Bike Parking: How to Get It Done http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/10/09/indoor-bike-parking-how-to-get-it-done/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:07:22 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Mike http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/10/09/indoor-bike-parking-how-to-get-it-done/comment-page-1/#comment-57564 Mike Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:14:10 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4704#comment-57564 The new bike racks at 40 Worth St (DOT headquarters) solve the problem of these typical "high school" style bike racks by essentially being a row of inverted U's. So your bike can still be close to the wall but it gives you points to lock both your front wheel & frame. Sorry I don't have a photo of this style of rack handy. The new bike racks at 40 Worth St (DOT headquarters) solve the problem of these typical "high school" style bike racks by essentially being a row of inverted U's. So your bike can still be close to the wall but it gives you points to lock both your front wheel & frame. Sorry I don't have a photo of this style of rack handy.

]]> By: A.Nonny.Mouse http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/10/09/indoor-bike-parking-how-to-get-it-done/comment-page-1/#comment-57557 A.Nonny.Mouse Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:04:58 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4704#comment-57557 Cap'n Transit does have a good point, however I'd still prefer a U-shaped (or similar) as opposed to that godawful wheel-bender. @ Adam - Mousey say: He who lock only wheel should ride unicycle. If you're backing in like the guy in the pic run the cable through the rear triangle of the frame. It's a little more secure. Not as good as a proper lockup, but better than the wheel alone and easy to accomplish with the same cable. Cap'n Transit does have a good point, however I'd still prefer a U-shaped (or similar) as opposed to that godawful wheel-bender.

@ Adam - Mousey say: He who lock only wheel should ride unicycle.

If you're backing in like the guy in the pic run the cable through the rear triangle of the frame. It's a little more secure. Not as good as a proper lockup, but better than the wheel alone and easy to accomplish with the same cable.

]]> By: Kyle Gebhart http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/10/09/indoor-bike-parking-how-to-get-it-done/comment-page-1/#comment-57540 Kyle Gebhart Sat, 11 Oct 2008 06:22:56 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4704#comment-57540 I work in this building currently, and this is exciting news! I'm glad the building management was able to do this. However, on other green initiatives, such as recycling, the building lacks support. The building only collects paper, and all cans, bottles, and glass get thrown away. I've tried to request that everything gets recycled, but have had little luck. I work in this building currently, and this is exciting news! I'm glad the building management was able to do this. However, on other green initiatives, such as recycling, the building lacks support. The building only collects paper, and all cans, bottles, and glass get thrown away. I've tried to request that everything gets recycled, but have had little luck.

]]> By: Adam http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/10/09/indoor-bike-parking-how-to-get-it-done/comment-page-1/#comment-57502 Adam Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:47:38 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4704#comment-57502 Quick response to some earlier posts: (1) Re Macchiavelli's comment, the rack is in front of a dead door not a freight elevator - so it doesn't block access to anything. (2) Re: M-O, Bruce and Cap'n Transit's comments - Cap'n Transit is right: the rack is in an area that has building staff around most of the time; in addition, there is a security camera trained on the rack. If the rack were outside, I'd certainly want to lock my frame to it, and Bruce therefore is right that this one wouldn't hold too many bikes. But here, a lock on the tire feels like it will sufficiently discourage thieves (the building guys have told me that no lock is needed, but I use a U-Lock or cable to minimize risk.) All in all, this has been a win all around - much quicker than waiting for the freight elevator guys to take me up and down to my office, and better for them, because they don't have to spend time shlepping each bike commuter at the same time they need to move freight stuff. So, three cheers to Pete and Eric are, indeed, in order. Quick response to some earlier posts: (1) Re Macchiavelli's comment, the rack is in front of a dead door not a freight elevator - so it doesn't block access to anything. (2) Re: M-O, Bruce and Cap'n Transit's comments - Cap'n Transit is right: the rack is in an area that has building staff around most of the time; in addition, there is a security camera trained on the rack. If the rack were outside, I'd certainly want to lock my frame to it, and Bruce therefore is right that this one wouldn't hold too many bikes. But here, a lock on the tire feels like it will sufficiently discourage thieves (the building guys have told me that no lock is needed, but I use a U-Lock or cable to minimize risk.) All in all, this has been a win all around - much quicker than waiting for the freight elevator guys to take me up and down to my office, and better for them, because they don't have to spend time shlepping each bike commuter at the same time they need to move freight stuff. So, three cheers to Pete and Eric are, indeed, in order.

]]> By: Cap'n Transit http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/10/09/indoor-bike-parking-how-to-get-it-done/comment-page-1/#comment-57495 Cap'n Transit Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:58:51 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4704#comment-57495 Keep in mind that these racks are inside the building, past security. As long as the bike rack is in a relatively high-traffic area, there should be minimal danger from professional thieves. If it's in a building that's big enough to be relatively anonymous, you'd probably want to put a cable through the wheels, but let's not go overboard. Who's going to strip a bike inside a building, in plain view of the building staff? Oh, and three cheers for Peter Troisi, Eric Gural and their bosses at Newmark! Keep in mind that these racks are inside the building, past security. As long as the bike rack is in a relatively high-traffic area, there should be minimal danger from professional thieves. If it's in a building that's big enough to be relatively anonymous, you'd probably want to put a cable through the wheels, but let's not go overboard. Who's going to strip a bike inside a building, in plain view of the building staff?

Oh, and three cheers for Peter Troisi, Eric Gural and their bosses at Newmark!

]]> By: Bruce http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/10/09/indoor-bike-parking-how-to-get-it-done/comment-page-1/#comment-57494 Bruce Fri, 10 Oct 2008 02:54:43 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4704#comment-57494 It looks like this rack will only hold bikes on one side, so moving it away from the wall likely wouldn't help much. While inverted U racks would cost more and be more difficult to install, they would work much better, allowing two contact points for the bike and allowing the use of U locks. Usually when I see racks like the one above bikes are parked on the outside ends and parallel to the inside, making it a 3 bike rack. Anyway, it's always good when a building manager/owner agrees to install a rack, and it often just takes people asking. Good luck with the bikes in buildings bill. I'm using it as an example of what other communities are tring to do to allow employees to bring bikes into buildings. It looks like this rack will only hold bikes on one side, so moving it away from the wall likely wouldn't help much. While inverted U racks would cost more and be more difficult to install, they would work much better, allowing two contact points for the bike and allowing the use of U locks. Usually when I see racks like the one above bikes are parked on the outside ends and parallel to the inside, making it a 3 bike rack.

Anyway, it's always good when a building manager/owner agrees to install a rack, and it often just takes people asking. Good luck with the bikes in buildings bill. I'm using it as an example of what other communities are tring to do to allow employees to bring bikes into buildings.

]]> By: Niccolo Machiavelli http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/10/09/indoor-bike-parking-how-to-get-it-done/comment-page-1/#comment-57478 Niccolo Machiavelli Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:04:42 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4704#comment-57478 Is blocking the freight elevator part of good building design? Just curious. Is blocking the freight elevator part of good building design? Just curious.

]]> By: m-o http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/10/09/indoor-bike-parking-how-to-get-it-done/comment-page-1/#comment-57464 m-o Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:12:30 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4704#comment-57464 That picture, though, shows a common problem with indoor bike parking - racks shoved against a wall are hard to lock to. When the rack is placed perpendicular to the wall, though, it makes it possible to lock to, and it doubles the capacity of the rack. Three cheers for buildings allowing bikes in. That picture, though, shows a common problem with indoor bike parking - racks shoved against a wall are hard to lock to.

When the rack is placed perpendicular to the wall, though, it makes it possible to lock to, and it doubles the capacity of the rack.

Three cheers for buildings allowing bikes in.

]]> By: Braddy http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/10/09/indoor-bike-parking-how-to-get-it-done/comment-page-1/#comment-57461 Braddy Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:06:38 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4704#comment-57461 New York has a TON of flat, open rooftop space. Why not use the roof to store bikes? It wouldn't be difficult to build simple, sheetmetal storage sheds up there. The bikes would be protected from the weather and thieves, and the landlords wouldn't have to give up any valuable space inside the building. New York has a TON of flat, open rooftop space. Why not use the roof to store bikes? It wouldn't be difficult to build simple, sheetmetal storage sheds up there. The bikes would be protected from the weather and thieves, and the landlords wouldn't have to give up any valuable space inside the building.

]]> By: vnm http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/10/09/indoor-bike-parking-how-to-get-it-done/comment-page-1/#comment-57460 vnm Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:00:10 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4704#comment-57460 This is terrific. Great job to all involved. This is terrific. Great job to all involved.

]]> By: Clarence Eckerson Jr. http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/10/09/indoor-bike-parking-how-to-get-it-done/comment-page-1/#comment-57458 Clarence Eckerson Jr. Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:23:34 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4704#comment-57458 Mr. Gural you sound like a real firm for the future. If you guys want some further publicity when you are going to install even more bike parking in other buildings, would love to follow you around for a short Streetfilm. Make sure to email me when so: clarence@streetfilms.org Thanks! Mr. Gural you sound like a real firm for the future. If you guys want some further publicity when you are going to install even more bike parking in other buildings, would love to follow you around for a short Streetfilm. Make sure to email me when so: clarence@streetfilms.org

Thanks!

]]> By: Eric McClure http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/10/09/indoor-bike-parking-how-to-get-it-done/comment-page-1/#comment-57456 Eric McClure Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:12:03 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4704#comment-57456 My company leased space at 520 Eighth Avenue from 2001 to 2004. The building management was very responsive to our needs, and I have nothing but good things to say about Newmark and Eric Gural. It's not surprising that they are taking steps to help bike commuters. Several of our employees rode their bikes to work, and we fortunately had a bit of unbuilt space where they could store them during the day. The building, as your story indicates, allowed them to bring their bikes up and down the freight elevator without a problem. 520 Eighth was once home to many garment manufacturers, so it has fairly ample (though not gigantic) freight areas. This likely makes it easier to house bike parking, but I think that Newmark would try to find a way to make it work, regardless. If only all building owners and managers were so accommodating. My company leased space at 520 Eighth Avenue from 2001 to 2004. The building management was very responsive to our needs, and I have nothing but good things to say about Newmark and Eric Gural. It's not surprising that they are taking steps to help bike commuters.

Several of our employees rode their bikes to work, and we fortunately had a bit of unbuilt space where they could store them during the day. The building, as your story indicates, allowed them to bring their bikes up and down the freight elevator without a problem.

520 Eighth was once home to many garment manufacturers, so it has fairly ample (though not gigantic) freight areas. This likely makes it easier to house bike parking, but I think that Newmark would try to find a way to make it work, regardless.

If only all building owners and managers were so accommodating.

]]> By: Larry Littlefield http://www.streetsblog.org/2008/10/09/indoor-bike-parking-how-to-get-it-done/comment-page-1/#comment-57455 Larry Littlefield Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:07:31 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=4704#comment-57455 Hey Newmark, how about 530 5th Avenue! Hey Newmark, how about 530 5th Avenue!

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